Make Miscarriage Leave a Legal Right in Ireland — No Woman Should Face This Alone

My name is Neeth Catherine Job, and on October 20th, 2025, my life changed forever. 

 

I was 13 weeks pregnant with twins when I experienced a miscarriage. What many people don’t realise is that miscarriage can involve the full labour process. For me, it lasted almost 24 hours. 

 

I delivered our first baby at around 2 a.m., and our second at around 11 p.m. that night. The physical pain was overwhelming, and due to additional medical complications, my recovery took nearly two weeks. The emotional pain is something I will carry for much longer. 

 

One of the things that carried me through this devastating experience was my faith in God. In the midst of loss and confusion, I trusted that He sustains life, and that trust became my strength when I had none left. 

 

The hospital staff were incredibly supportive, and so were my managers, who told me to take all the time I needed. I was grateful for that compassion, but what shocked me was discovering that Ireland has no statutory miscarriage leave at all. 

 

I am originally from India, where women receive six weeks of paid leave after a miscarriage. Having worked in Ireland for the past years, I assumed similar protections existed. Instead, I had to rely on my sick leave and annual leave, simply because there is no legal entitlement for women who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. 

 

I was lucky to have understanding employers. But many women do not. 

Many return to work in pain. 

Many return while still bleeding. 

Many return while grieving a loss that cannot be expressed in words. 

And many have no choice. 

Miscarriage is not just a medical event. It is a physical trauma and a profound bereavement. Yet women in Ireland are expected to return to work immediately, often without recovery time, financial security, or emotional support. Miscarriage affects approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies. 

 

Ireland has debated miscarriage-leave laws for years. The 2021 Reproductive Health Related Leave Bill offers meaningful protection, yet it remains stalled. Meanwhile, the 2025 Pregnancy Loss Bill proposes only five days of leave — far from enough. Discussion is not enough. Delays are not enough. Women need legal protection now.  

I am calling on the Irish Government to introduce 4 weeks of statutory paid miscarriage leave for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. 

 

Four weeks is not long enough to heal the grief, but it is the minimum time a woman should have to recover physically, emotionally, and with dignity, without fear of losing income or job security. 

 

No woman should have to fight for time off after losing her baby. 

No woman should have to use annual, sick, or unpaid leave to recover. 

No woman should be left alone in this. 

 

By signing this petition, you are supporting thousands of women every year who experience pregnancy loss, and you are helping build a more compassionate Ireland. 

Please sign and share. Let’s make miscarriage leave a legal right.